How do you calculate the angular displacement (in radians) of a space station orbiting the Earth...?

Question

Hi,

if there was a space station and its mass is 2.09x10^4 kg and it orbits the Earth with a height of 350km. The radius of the Earth is 6400km. How would I be able to work out the angular displacement (in radians) after 1 hour?

I've already worked out the centripetal force on the space station, its orbital speed and the time taken for each orbit but not quite sure how I can use these to calculate this last question. Please advise. Many thanks.

Answer 1

If it's a circular orbit (which the space station is very close to), you just divide the velocity by the radius (6400 + 350 km). That's the angular rate. Multiply by the time and you have angular displacement in rad. If the rate is in rad/s then obviously you multiply by time in seconds.